﻿IV 



served the presence of the cane leaf-hopper. A short stay of 

 about ten days gave ample proof of the existence in Australia 

 of a considerable variety of Hymenopterous parasites of leaf- 

 hoppers, of Dipterous parasites of the g-enus Pipiiiiciiliis, and of 

 Stylopid parasites of the genus Elcjichus. 



Xt Bundaberg, about twelve hours l\v rail north of Brisbane, 

 we spent another ten days in June. Here is an extensive cane 

 district with our leaf-hopper everywhere present, but never in 

 numbers such as we are accustomed to in these islands. In fact 

 we never saw the hoppers nearly as numerous as they are on our 

 least affected plantations. From eggs collected here Mr. Koc- 

 bele soon bred out specimens of the Mymarid parasites he had 

 felt so confident of finding. 



From our observations on the habits of the cane leaf-hopper 

 in these islands, it seemed probable that in tropical Australia 

 this species would be in its greatest numbers in the colder 

 month's, so after a brief stay in Bundaberg, we proceeded north 

 to Cairns, which place we reached at the beginning of July. 

 This plan seemed very expedient, for by retreating gradually 

 towards the south, as the hot season advanced, we hoped to 

 prolong the season during which natural enemies for the cane 

 leaf-hopper could be obtained. It appeared likely that effective 

 work could only be done at Cairns for a month or two, since 

 without a reasonably large supply of hoppers, it was evident 

 that the parasites could not be found in sufficient numbers for 

 shipment. This indeed proved to be the case, and by the end 

 of August, leaf-hoppers and their eggs had become so scarce in 

 the cane-fields, that we came south again to Bundaberg. At 

 Bundaberg we made a long sta}- on this occasion, regularly 

 sending ofif consignments of parasites, until here too, owing 

 partly to the season and partly to the harvesting of the crop, 

 the locality became unprofitable. After a short stav in Bris- 

 bane, at the end of the year, 1 returned to Honolulu, while Mr. 

 Ivoebele proceeded to Sydney, where his attention was largely 

 given to collecting beneficial insects for pests other than ieaf- 

 hopper. On the return journey Mr. Koebele spent one month 

 in Fiji, the enemies of the cane-hopper in those islands being 

 mostly similar to those already found in Australia. A fine con- 

 signment of the Chalcid egg-parasite (OoMrasfichiis) of leaf- 

 hopper was most important, as it enabled us to establish that 

 important species without anv doubt. 



